U.S. patent application number 14/805893 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-12 for metering of a preparation fluid for surgical instruments.
This patent application is currently assigned to OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH. Invention is credited to Henning THATE.
Application Number | 20150320505 14/805893 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49989671 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150320505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
THATE; Henning |
November 12, 2015 |
METERING OF A PREPARATION FLUID FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
Abstract
A metering apparatus for a reprocessing device for reprocessing
surgical instruments. The metering apparatus including: a metering
chamber for accommodating a reprocessing fluid, wherein the
metering chamber comprises: an inlet for letting the reprocessing
fluid into the metering chamber; and an outlet for letting out the
reprocessing fluid introduced into the metering chamber, wherein
the inlet and the outlet are dimensioned such that a flow velocity
of the reprocessing fluid from the outlet while the reprocessing
fluid is being let out of the metering chamber is greater than a
flow velocity of the reprocessing fluid into the inlet while the
reprocessing fluid is being introduced into the metering
chamber.
Inventors: |
THATE; Henning; (Hamburg,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH |
Hamburg |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE
GMBH
Hamburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
49989671 |
Appl. No.: |
14/805893 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2014/000116 |
Jan 16, 2014 |
|
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14805893 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
134/22.11 ;
134/201; 137/596 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/87169 20150401;
A61B 2090/701 20160201; B08B 3/04 20130101; A61B 90/70 20160201;
A47L 15/4463 20130101; A47L 15/4418 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 19/00 20060101
A61B019/00; B08B 3/04 20060101 B08B003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2013 |
DE |
DE 102013201050.8 |
Claims
1. A metering apparatus for a reprocessing device for reprocessing
surgical instruments , the metering apparatus comprising: a
metering chamber for accommodating a reprocessing fluid, wherein
the metering chamber comprises: an inlet for letting the
reprocessing fluid into the metering chamber; and an outlet for
letting out the reprocessing fluid introduced into the metering
chamber, wherein the inlet and the outlet are dimensioned such that
a flow velocity of the reprocessing fluid from the outlet while the
reprocessing fluid is being let out of the metering chamber is
greater than a flow velocity of the reprocessing fluid into the
inlet while the reprocessing fluid is being introduced into the
metering chamber.
2. The metering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a valve provided on the outlet, wherein the valve is one of closed
during the filling of the metering chamber or is open during the
letting of the reprocessing fluid out of the metering chamber.
3. The metering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inlet
is a valveless inlet.
4. The metering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
at least one control window provided on the metering chamber for
the optical monitoring of the fill level of the reprocessing fluid
in the metering chamber.
5. The metering apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at
least one control window comprises two control windows provided on
the metering chamber, the two control windows being spaced in
relation to a flow direction of the reprocessing fluid between the
inlet and the outlet.
6. The metering apparatus according to one claim 1, wherein the
inlet is connected with a container for the reprocessing fluid,
wherein the reprocessing fluid is automatically introduced into the
metering chamber from the container via the inlet through
gravity.
7. A method for metered delivery of a reprocessing fluid in a
washing area of a reprocessing device for reprocessing surgical
instruments, the method comprising: providing a metering chamber
for accommodating the reprocessing fluid, wherein the metering
chamber comprising an inlet for letting the reprocessing fluid into
the metering chamber and an outlet for letting out the reprocessing
fluid introduced into the metering chamber, and dimensioning the
inlet and the outlet such that a flow velocity of the reprocessing
fluid from the outlet while the reprocessing fluid is being let out
of the metering chamber is greater than a flow velocity of the
reprocessing fluid into the inlet while the reprocessing fluid is
being introduced into the metering chamber.
8. There method according to claim 7, further comprising delivering
the reprocessing fluid from the outlet to the washing area in a
metered manner.
9. A reprocessing device for reprocessing surgical instruments, the
reprocessing device comprising: a washing area for accommodating
and reprocessing at least one surgical instrument; and a metering
apparatus comprising: a metering chamber for accommodating a
reprocessing fluid, wherein the metering chamber comprising an
inlet for letting the reprocessing fluid into the metering chamber
and an outlet for letting out the reprocessing fluid introduced
into the metering chamber, wherein the inlet and the outlet are
dimensioned such that a flow velocity of the reprocessing fluid
from the outlet while the reprocessing fluid is being let out of
the metering chamber is greater than a flow velocity of the
reprocessing fluid into the inlet while the reprocessing fluid is
being introduced into the metering chamber.
10. A reservoir comprising: a tank for a reprocessing fluid for
reprocessing a surgical instrument; and a metering apparatus
comprising: a metering chamber for accommodating a reprocessing
fluid, wherein the metering chamber comprising an inlet for letting
the reprocessing fluid into the metering chamber and an outlet for
letting out the reprocessing fluid introduced into the metering
chamber, wherein the inlet and the outlet are dimensioned such that
a flow velocity of the reprocessing fluid from the outlet while the
reprocessing fluid is being let out of the metering chamber is
greater than a flow velocity of the reprocessing fluid into the
inlet while the reprocessing fluid is being introduced into the
metering chamber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation of
PCT/EP2014/000116 filed on Jan. 16, 2014, which is based upon and
claims the benefit to DE 10 2013 201 050.8 filed on Jan. 23, 2013,
the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present application relates to a metering apparatus for
a reprocessing device for reprocessing surgical instruments,
particularly endoscopes. The application further relates to a use
of such a metering apparatus and a reprocessing device for
reprocessing surgical instruments, particularly endoscopes, and a
method for reprocessing a surgical instrument, particularly an
endoscope, by means of a reprocessing fluid.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] It is known in the state of the art that endoscopes are used
to diagnose and treat diseases. For the use of endoscopes as well
as other surgical devices, these surgical instruments must be
reprocessed, i.e. cleaned and disinfected, after being used on a
patient. In the case of the reprocessing of surgical instruments,
legal and clinical regulations must be strictly adhered to so that
the components inside and on the surface of the surgical
instruments, in particular endoscopes, are disinfected and must be
free of germs, bacteria, etc.
[0006] Reprocessing devices of surgical instruments, in particular
of endoscopes, normally have devices which clean and disinfect the
outer surfaces of the surgical instruments as well as the channels
and channel systems using appropriate liquids of the same. Washing
cycles are normally provided for this. In particular, in the case
of the inner channel washing of a surgical instrument, in
particular of an endoscope or respectively a flexible endoscope,
the sanitary result of the reprocessing depends on the flow volume
of a reprocessing fluid.
[0007] Moreover, a reprocessing device from Olympus Winter &
Ibe GmbH, Hamburg, under the name ETD is known for reprocessing and
disinfecting flexible endoscopes. In this device, the channels of
the endoscopes are washed with a reprocessing fluid or respectively
washing, cleaning and/or disinfecting liquids through mechanical
cleaning and disinfection of, in particular, flexible
endoscopes.
[0008] In the known reprocessing machines, hose pumps are used to
meter the disinfecting agents and cleaning agents, wherein the hose
pumps remove the reprocessing fluids from a canister or the like by
means of a suction lance.
SUMMARY
[0009] Based on this state of the art, an object is to enable a
simple and maintenance-free metering of reprocessing fluids for
cleaning and disinfecting surgical instruments, particularly
endoscopes.
[0010] This object is solved by a metering apparatus for a
reprocessing device for reprocessing surgical instruments, in
particular endoscopes, with a predetermined metering chamber for
accommodating a reprocessing fluid, particularly a cleaning liquid
or a disinfecting liquid, wherein the metering chamber comprises an
inlet for letting the reprocessing fluid into the metering chamber
and an outlet for letting out a reprocessing fluid introduced into
the metering chamber, wherein the inlet and the outlet are
dimensioned in such a way that the flow velocity of the
reprocessing fluid in the outlet while the reprocessing fluid is
being let out of the metering chamber is greater than the flow
velocity of the reprocessing fluid in the inlet while the
reprocessing fluid is being introduced into the metering
chamber.
[0011] The metering apparatus is based on the idea that the
metering chamber of the metering apparatus has a predetermined
volume, into which the reprocessing fluid is introduced from a
reservoir, such as being above the metering chamber, as a result of
a gravitational filling and via the inlet into the metering
chamber, such as being below the reservoir, wherein in particular
the filling time for filling the metering chambers is much greater
than the time for emptying the metering chamber. The metering
chamber is hereby filled slowly with the reprocessing fluid from
the reservoir over a longer period of time up to the maximum fill
level and then emptied, within a short period of time, particularly
suddenly, due to a flow cross-section in the outlet that is greater
with respect to the inlet.
[0012] According to the application, the flow velocity while the
reprocessing fluid is being let out of the metering chamber is
greater than the flow velocity of the reprocessing fluid during the
filling of the metering chamber in the inlet, such as by a factor
of 2, 3, 4, 5 to 10 or 20. Accordingly, the filling time, i.e. the
time for filling the initially empty metering chamber up to the
complete fill level is greater than the time for emptying the
metering chamber via the outlet, such as at least by a factor of 2,
3, 4, 5 to 10 or respectively 20.
[0013] A metering of the reprocessing fluid is hereby provided in
that the metering chamber is refilled significantly slower by the
subsequent reprocessing fluid from the container than the
extraction or respectively the emptying of the filled metering
chamber through the opened outlet. If, for example, the extraction
is faster than the filling by a factor of 100, a metering accuracy
of 1% is achieved.
[0014] In particular, the inlet and the outlet are dimensioned in
such a way that a metering accuracy of less than .+-.5%
(<.+-.5%) is set.
[0015] Another advantage is that, in a reprocessing device for
surgical instruments, the use of hose pumps or other pump
apparatuses for extraction of reprocessing fluids from containers
is unnecessary so that a pump-free metering of reprocessing fluids
for surgical instruments is provided.
[0016] Moreover, a further development is that a valve is provided
on the outlet, wherein in particular the valve is closed during the
filling of the metering chamber or is open during the letting of
the reprocessing fluid out of the metering chamber.
[0017] Furthermore, the inlet can be designed as a valveless inlet,
wherein the inlet is connected or connectable with the container
filled with reprocessing fluid. Due to the fact that the
reprocessing fluid flows out of the container via the inlet into
the metering chamber due to gravity, a gravimetric metering system
is provided. In such embodiment, the container is hereby provided
with the reprocessing fluid above the metering chamber.
[0018] Moreover, one embodiment of the metering apparatus is
characterized in that at least one control window is provided for
the optical monitoring of the fill level of the reprocessing fluid
in the metering chamber.
[0019] It is thereby also possible that a fill level display or a
fill level sensor system is provided for the metering chamber or
respectively the metering apparatus in order to display or
respectively determine the fill level in the metering chamber. Such
a control unit can be designed for example by means of a photo
sensor or the like.
[0020] Moreover, it is provided in a further embodiment of the
metering apparatus that two spaced control windows are provided on
the metering chamber in relation to the flow direction of the
reprocessing fluid between the, inlet and the outlet where the
inlet can be an upper inlet and the outlet can be a lower outlet.
An optical monitoring of whether the metering chamber is emptied
completely during this emptying is hereby possible by means of a
lower control window, which can be in the area of the outlet.
[0021] The inlet can be connected or connectable with a container
for the reprocessing fluid, wherein in particular the reprocessing
fluid is automatically introducible or introduced into the metering
chamber from the container via the inlet through gravity. The
outlet of the metering chamber is hereby connected with an inlet
for a reprocessing fluid in a washing area of a reprocessing
device.
[0022] The object is further solved through a use of a metering
apparatus, as described above, for metered delivery of a
reprocessing fluid, in particular a cleaning liquid or a
disinfecting liquid, in the washing area of a reprocessing device
for reprocessing surgical instruments, particularly endoscopes.
[0023] Moreover, the object is solved by a reprocessing device for
reprocessing surgical instruments, particularly endoscopes, with a
washing area for accommodating and reprocessing at least one
surgical instrument, particularly an endoscope, and with a metering
apparatus, as described above, for the metered delivery of a
reprocessing fluid into the washing area. We expressly refer to the
above explanations in order to avoid repetitions.
[0024] The object is further solved by a manageable reservoir, in
particular canister, with a tank for a reprocessing fluid for
reprocessing a surgical instrument, in particular endoscope, and
with a previously described metering apparatus. For example, the
reservoir is hereby provided with an integrated metering apparatus
so that the metering chamber of the reservoir is attached to a
reprocessing device at the outlet.
[0025] Simple handling is achieved through the provision of a
reservoir with an integrated metering apparatus or respectively
metering chamber, wherein upon replacement of an empty reservoir
with a reservoir filled with a reprocessing fluid on the
reprocessing device, the metering chamber is also replaced together
with the reservoir so that the reservoir replacement results in the
replacement of a used metering chamber of the empty reservoir with
a sanitary metering chamber of the full reservoir. The sanitation
for reprocessing surgical instruments and cleaning reprocessing
devices as well as their maintenance is thus improved in a simple
and efficient manner.
[0026] The object is further solved by a method for reprocessing a
surgical instrument, particularly an endoscope, by means of a
reprocessing fluid in a washing area, such as in a washing area of
a reprocessing device, wherein upon connection of a metering
apparatus, as described above, the reprocessing fluid is delivered
in a metered manner to the washing area of the reprocessing
device.
[0027] Further characteristics will become evident from the
description of the embodiments together with the claims and the
attached FIGURE. Embodiments can fulfill individual characteristics
or a combination of several characteristics.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The embodiments are described below, without restricting the
general idea of the invention, based on an exemplary embodiment in
reference to the FIGURE, whereby we expressly refer to the FIGURE
with regard to the disclosure of all details according to the
invention that are not explained in greater detail in the text.
[0029] The FIGURE schematically illustrates a view of a
reprocessing device for reprocessing surgical instruments, in
particular endoscopes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The FIGURE shows schematically a reprocessing device 10 for
endoscopes in a front view. For reprocessing surgical instruments,
the reprocessing device thereby has a housing 14 with a receiving
area 12 designed inside the housing 14. The surgical instruments,
e.g. endoscopes, to be cleaned are introduced e.g. in baskets into
the receiving area 12 designed as a washing area. An endoscope
reprocessing device is known for example under the name ETD from
Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH, Hamburg.
[0031] The reprocessing device 10 also has a control and display
panel as well as a drying device for the hot-air drying of surgical
instruments.
[0032] Furthermore, the receiving area 12 has an inlet 16, which is
connected with a reservoir 20 via a line 18.
[0033] The reservoir 20 itself is arranged above the receiving area
12 in a corresponding compartment or the like or holder. In this
application, the terms "above" and "below" as well as similar terms
thereto are relative to the direction of gravity, i.e., "above"
meaning a direction higher than "below" in the direction of
gravity, such that liquid would flow from the higher position to
the lower position due to gravity. The reservoir 20 is further
designed with a tank 22 for accommodating a reprocessing fluid 22a.
For example, a cleaning liquid or a disinfecting liquid as well as
another washing liquid in concentrated form can hereby be
accommodated as the reprocessing fluid.
[0034] Moreover, the reservoir 20 is designed with a metering
chamber 24, wherein the metering chamber 24 is connected with the
tank 22 via an inlet 26. The metering chamber 24 has a volume that
matches the metering amount of reprocessing liquid, which is
introduced in concentrated form into the receiving area 12 via the
inlet 16. The tank 22 is thereby positioned above the inlet 26 and
the metering chamber 24.
[0035] Due to gravity, the reprocessing liquid from the tank 22 is
introduced into the metering chamber 24 via the inlet 26 so that
the metering chamber 24 is fillable with the reprocessing fluid.
The metering chamber 24 has on its bottom side an outlet 28
connected with the line 18, via which the reprocessing fluid drains
via the outlet 28 via the line 18 connected to the outlet 28 after
the filling of the metering chamber 24 with the reprocessing fluid.
A valve 32 is hereby arranged on the outlet 28.
[0036] The upper inlet 26 and the lower outlet 28 are designed such
that the flow velocity of the reprocessing fluid in the inlet 26 is
much smaller than during the letting of the reprocessing fluid out
of the filled metering chamber 24, whereby the reprocessing fluid
flows slowly into the metering chamber 24 from the tank 22 via the
inlet 26 to fill the metering chamber 24, while the reprocessing
fluid flows faster out of the metering chamber 24 via the outlet 28
after the filling of the metering chamber 24, whereby a
predetermined amount of reprocessing fluid flows into the receiving
area 12 via the line 18 and the inlet 16.
[0037] For monitoring the fill level of the metering chamber 24
during the filling of the metering chamber 24, a control window 34,
36 is arranged in a lower area as well as in an upper area of the
metering chamber 24. The fill level of the reprocessing fluid in
the metering chamber 24 can hereby be determined visually.
[0038] All named characteristics, including those taken from the
FIGURE alone, and individual characteristics, which are disclosed
in combination with other characteristics, are considered alone and
in combination as essential for the invention. Embodiments can be
realized by individual characteristics, or a combination of several
characteristics.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0039] 10 Reprocessing device [0040] 12 Receiving area [0041] 14
Housing [0042] 16 Inlet [0043] 18 Line [0044] 20 Reservoir [0045]
22 Tank [0046] 24 Metering chamber [0047] 26 Inlet [0048] 28 Outlet
[0049] 32 Valve [0050] 34 Control window [0051] 36 Control
window
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